In this latest episode of our knitting web video series/podcast we chat with Susan Moraca from Kollage Yarns. She tells us about square straight and circular needles, rosewood crochet hooks and beautiful yarns.

My favorite summer knitting project for summer is shawls. Just as Elizabeth Zimmerman wrote in the knitters almanac. The shawl is light and can be stored in its own little pouch when knitted on circular needles. What could be better than that!!!

That interview was one of the best. I have used the square straight needles here in the UK and they do feel ‘strange’ at first but brilliant. I also totally agree that circular needles are rather annoying because you cannot straighten the cable, so am going to be rather excited to see how the Kollage ones work out. By the way, I love your cardi Cat, its a beautiful colour

Hi Cat, once again thanks for the interesting episode. I have many projects planed till the end of this year, and during this summer there are 3 new borns expected in the family. So i have to knit some nice baby sets, a combination of baby socks and jacket and hat or blanket and soft toy… there are many possibilities… Have a great summer

My favorite thing to knit in summer is my all-year-round fascination with socks. I just love knitting socks. This summer I’ve become intrigued with shawls & lace. I’ve just started my first one as a gift for my sister. I’ve learned that my daughter is engaged. I’m going to surprise her with a lacy honeymoon shawl. Lucky for me that the wedding is next summer so I have time. Now I must go check out Sock-a-licious!

My favorite thing to knit during the summer is lace scarves because I like to give them as gifts and I want people to be able to wear them when its not necessarily cold outside and they make great accessories. Judith

Hi! I’m a new viewer, and as a school teacher, I really appreciate your presentation style! For me, summer means catching up on a few UFOs before I start my many holiday projects. Right now, I’m finishing a pair of socks for my mother-in-law that I started last year. Thank goodness she understands that anything hand-knitted is worth the wait!

I think this summer is going to be the summer of the washcloths. Since the amount of yarn to carry around is small and the project itself doesn’t sit in your lap, it works well with warm weather. I usually have a small container of cornstarch in my knitting bag, though, just in case my hands start to get sweaty.

In the summer, I love to knit cotton lace doilies!
However, this summer I am crocheting a large afghan for a
birthday gift….so I use a t.v. tray for it to lay on while
I add rows. That way my lap doesn’t get too warm!
Love the show, this was a great episode!
That sock yarns screams to be made into a shawlette!

I really love the beautiful yarns and the evolution of the knittng needles …how clever! I love to knit shawls,washcloths,hats,scarves and socks in the summer but at this moment,my WIP include a baby blanket, hat and sweater set for my grandchild due in October and a crocheted blanket for an elderly family member. I live in the south but regardless of the season, I must feel my yarn and needles in my hands!

In the summer, I like to knit socks and also something cotton. Right now I am knitting the counterpane top from Interweave Summer 2010, but using cotton instead of linen. I love the pattern! I can’t wait to try this new luxe sock yarn.

I really enjoyed this latest video! Square needles? How fantastic! Maybe my mother-in-law, who has carpal tunnel syndrome, can get back to knitting again. My favorite item to knit during the summer months is socks for my granddaughters.

I love your podcast and have been listening for a while. My favorite summer knitting is toe up socks. They are quick and give you a place to tuck the yarn when not knitting!! Keep up the great podcast.

I don’t really have one favorite summer project. Right now, I’m knitting a wool skirt (that I won’t wear until Oct. at the earliest!), a lace shawl, a couple of pairs of socks and a monster for my son.

I do like to start Christmas gifts in the summer. But the key word there is start … I might cast on a couple of gift knits but (so far) I’ve yet to actually finish any until Dec!

sweaters in the summer,fall,winter, all the while socks also.
have always wanted kollage because it fits perfect with portequese knitting.
since you know her pass the word to make a interchange set.
i’m there. miss you in june. have fun.

Seasons don’t affect my choices. This summer I have several workshops planned so first on my list is to prepare for those. The classes focus on indigo dyeing, weaving and spinning. At the moment, I am knitting a mohair shawl as a wedding shower gift.

In the summer I tend to knit small things. Although, at the moment, I have 2 shawls, 2 pair of socks, a sweater and a blanket on the needles. I like sitting in the AC and knitting whichever my brain has enough energy to knit. :o)

In the summer time I pretty much knit anything. But I tend to knit socks most because they are small and easy to carry with me during my vacations to the U.S. Right now I have 3 pairs of socks on the needles.

Hi Kat – another great episode…thanks! My favorite items for the summer are bags and kids socks. I also like to get my holiday gift knitting patterns ready to go and see what I need to spin up to make the items.

Hi! In the summer I enjoy knitting socks because they are small and easy to carry with me as I am always on the go and lace shawls because they are more light weight and are easier to have in my lap during sweltering heat.

I only started knitting in September so I don’t really know what I like to knit in the summer :). I guess I am going to find out this summer!
I’m currently working on a summer vest for the cold summer day’s here in The Netherlands, And I also have a lace shawl lying around somewhere…

I knit socks in the summer because they are small and portable. shawls and sweaters are too heavy and bulkly to carry around. I love the sock-o-lics yarn! It looks wonderful! My sister and I are great fans of the show. I’m trying to find those needles in the LYS
I go to. Thanks for the show!

My favorite things to knit in the summer time are bright/colorful projects. For me, the arrival of the sun and the heat means that colors are about to pop out and make a splash; whether it be from new fashions to new plants blooming, I love the colors I see =)

My favorite thing to knit in the summer is shawls. everything from the finest lace to worsted weight. i knit and crochet them.
for me shawls are like a portable womb, they bring the safety, comfort and love into a portable package.
there are two factors to my shawl making.

1) i knit them for a special person (you can see my last summer’s project at:http://www.ravelry.com/projects/xoxchadao/queen-annes-lace)and they are always someone who can use it.
2) i block the shawl in a small temple at a retreat facility called easton mountain. the shawl is spread out on a rug and the windows are left open so the summer breeze can dry it slowly.
I will have pictures of my 2011 shawl up in a month! so check it out.

I normally work on socks, but this year we have a surprise cousin coming to the family so I am working on a baby blanket that is worked in three inch squares and then sewn together. I am so excited! Love the show by the way, I have been watching since it started and can’t get enough! Keep up the good work!

A new viewer, I have just completed a marathon session this week watching all your past episodes. I really like the designer interviews. For summer knitting, I think I like lace projects best, but also like to throw in some washcloths and socks. It’s too painful to think about cold weather hats and mittens right now!

I’m really itching to try those Kollage needles now. I’ve heard so many good things about them. As for my summer knitting, it’s pretty much the same as any other time of year. I knit pretty slow and usually only have 2 or 3 projects going at a time. I tend to work on them until I finish them before starting something new. I always have a sock going though. Thanks for the contest. The yarn looks yummy.

My favorite project to knit this summer is baby sweaters. We found out our son and daughter in law are expecting identical twins in December after 5 years of trying. We are over the moon happy! When I hear a baby is on the way I knit. So I will be working on little sweaters this summer. Fun!

Sup Cat =)
I live in Mexico so it’s safe to say that during the summer its pretty warm… yet Im in med school soo i have two months of vacation time… so what do I do?… I start my winter knitting =)
My home is air conditioned so there no problem… I knit hats and scarves and right now im working on a pashmina xD
Greetings

The first thing that comes to mind is Lace Shawls. They’re so lightweight, so it doesn’t seem to be so warm on my lap! But truthfully, I start to pick out my christmas gifts and start working on them now (while I still have time!).

The interview with Ms. Moraca was one of the BEST! How fun it was to listen to her. I have fallen in love with the Kollage square circular needles and their amazing cables.

In the summer I usually knit a lot of dishcloths with bright cottons. I also like socks; a small project that sits lightly on my lap. I, too, have been enjoying the shawlettes and scarflets as lightweight summer projects.

I actually try to knit what I want “ready” in the winter. I feel it is the only way to get it done in time is to start it in the summer. But I always knit in climate control so the “weight” of it doesn’t bother me so much.
Thanks for the show!!! Keep it up! Still love it!

In summer (and all year round, actually!) I tend to knit socks – small, light, portable, and travel well. I’m a DPN girl and I love the Kollage Square DPN’s, they have just the right amount of grip to stop them sliding out of the stitches, without being too sticky. One of these days I will get round to trying magic loop socks on the Kollage circs!

I love to knit socks and shawlettes in summer. Hats and mitten for my grandchildren for Christmas and dishcloths to give a gifts as well. I love things that are portable so we can go for day trips and I can knit and enjoy the scenery.

Thank you, Kate. Great interview with Susan! She is so lovely. Never tried her square needles, but very curious! Summer project – definitely a Summer Shawl with silk blend or pair of lacy socks (I am always cold!).
~ Iryna

I just love your interviews and learn some new thing each time. This summer I have started two sweaters- they are small enough yet to go along camping and sitting outside. Can’t wait for fall to have new sweaters to wear.
I have seen the square needles but have not tried them- now I might have to!
Thanks!

My favorite summer project is anything small: socks, hats, mittens. They don’t make me warm, like a larger project sitting in my lap would, and they are easier to carry with me on trips, vacations, or just spare moments around town.

I recently re-started knitting (after years of being too busy) and I knit almost nonstop. Since I live in the South it’s warm most of the year. So I love knitting cotton short sleeve tops. As soon as I finish one I start another.

During the summer I tend to start any Christmas knitting that I need to get going on. If I don’t have too many items I need to do I will knit up some hats and cowls for a bit of an extra for people. Of course there is always a pair of socks or two in the bag for quick take alongs.